As we celebrate Earth Month, we are thrilled to announce that we have been selected for a $156+ million award under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund! The Southeast Rural Power Coalition—led by Groundswell—will launch and implement the Southeast Rural Power: Solar for All Program, delivering residential-serving community solar, associated energy storage, direct solar savings, energy efficiency housing improvements, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction to low-income and disadvantaged communities throughout the region.
April is the time to celebrate our planet, and it is our responsibility to take action to protect and preserve it. This month, we recognize our programs advancing sustainability, equity, and clean energy access for frontline communities. As the impacts of climate change and pollution are becoming more severe, it is more important than ever to take action to ensure a clean energy future for the communities of tomorrow.
As changemaker, environmentalist, and advocate, Dianne Dillon Ridgley said, "It's time to mother Earth."
From community solar to resilience hubs to Save On Utilities Long term (SOUL™) energy-efficiency upgrades, Groundswell is putting the community at the center of the clean energy transition. Through our community solar, subscribers can reduce their electricity bills and carbon footprint at the same time. In fact, as of this year, our SharePower™ program has delivered $8 million in benefits to date and prevented 1.5 thousand metric tons of carbon pollution. SharePower™ is a prime example of how the entire community benefits when given an opportunity to subscribe to local clean energy.
Much like the benefits of community solar through SharePower, our SOUL™ program aims to create lasting solutions that address both economic and environmental burdens. SOUL™ addresses high energy burdens by connecting households with energy efficiency improvements that can prevent energy loss and reduce the amount of energy needed to keep a home comfortable. The housing upgrades are an investment in housing equity and preservation. In addition to increasing the comfortability and safety of a home, the money saved on utilities can be allocated to other critical expenses. The housing repairs made possible by SOUL™ will support generational wealth, allowing houses to be passed down to future generations.
Community-owned clean energy projects are essential, and the Direct Pay provision of the Inflation Reduction Act is making this a reality for many nonprofit and tax-exempt entities that can directly benefit from the federal tax credits. With our community resilience hubs projects such as City of Refuge in Baltimore and the upcoming project at VICARS Center at Community Church in Atlanta, these tax credits are creating more resources for these organizations to further the good work in their communities while being a trusted location in times of crisis.
Our programs span across five states (including the District of Columbia) and address a breadth of environmental, economic, and systemic issues in dire need of reform. At the root of it all is a desire to build community power and create sustainable solutions for long-lasting problems. To honor the earth and leave it in a better state than we found it. With the support of our team, partners, funders, and community, we can continue to be effective stewards of the earth for generations to come.